Two foreign workers kidnapped in Nigeria

ABUJA, Jan 23 (Reuters) Two foreign construction workers were kidnapped by gunmen on their way to work today in Nigeria's southern oil city Port Harcourt, police said.

Rivers State police commissioner Felix Ogbaudu said the two men were American nationals working for local construction firm Pivot. But an oil industry security source said the two men were British.

''Two Americans were kipnapped on their way to work,'' Ogbaudu said.

Thousands of foreign oil workers have left Nigeria in the past year as attacks and kidnappings have multiplied, and some industry executives see the situation in the Niger Delta descending into anarchy as landmark elections approach in April.

Nigeria is the world's eighth largest exporter. Militant raids last year have cut oil exports by a fifth.

The April elections should mark Nigeria's first fully democratic transition and many expect politicians to arm thugs to gain sway at the polls, especially in the delta where elected office comes with a slice of oil revenue.

REUTERS DKA DS1330